Benny Award | |
---|---|
Awarded for | A lifetime of excellence in variety entertainment |
Date | 1969 |
Country | New Zealand |
Website | http://www.vac.org.nz |
The Benny Award is bestowed on a New Zealand variety entertainer. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] It is presented annually by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand, a non-for-profit organisation and showbusiness club, founded in 1966 and awarded to a variety performer who has achieved "A lifetime of excellence in their field of the performing arts". [7] [8]
Nominations for the Benny Award are accepted from VAC members and the recipient decided upon by past Benny recipients, making its presentation recognition of the highest degree by the New Zealand entertainment industry. [3] [9] [10]
The Benny Award was named after its first recipient, New Zealand variety performer Edgar Benyon (1902–1978) in 1969. [11] The Benny statuette was designed and sculptured by magician Jon Zealando and features Greek muses Melpomene and Thalia, the traditional symbols of comedy and tragedy. [12]
Recipients of the Benny Award include many New Zealand household names and figureheads of entertainment. [3] [13] [14]
William James Te Wehi Taitoko better known by his stage name Billy T. James, was a New Zealand entertainer, comedian, musician and actor. He became a key figure in the development of New Zealand comedy and was a household name during his lifetime.
Carl William Doy is a British-born New Zealand pianist, composer and arranger. One of New Zealand's most successful musicians, Doy is probably best known for his multi-platinum selling Piano By Candlelight albums.
Sir Howard Leslie Morrison was a New Zealand entertainer. From 1964 until his death in 2009, he was one of New Zealand's leading television and concert performers.
Dame Malvina Lorraine Major is a New Zealand opera soprano.
The following lists events that happened during 1969 in New Zealand.
Edward Robert Low is a musician from New Zealand.
Jodi Vaughan is an Australian-born country singer, songwriter, musician, television performer, and actor from Hamilton, New Zealand.
Raymond John Patrick Columbus was a New Zealand Benny Award-winning singer and songwriter, television host, music manager and entertainer, with a career spanning six decades. As the lead singer of Ray Columbus & the Invaders, his best-known hit was "She's A Mod".
John Maxwell Cryer, generally known as Max Cryer, was a New Zealand television producer and presenter, radio broadcaster, entertainment producer, singer, cabaret performer and writer.
Robert John Guest was a New Zealand-Australian actor, television personality and host and singer, who started his career in pop music in New Zealand, before becoming best known for his work in Australian musical theatre, particularly in various productions of The Phantom of the Opera. He played the lead for a record-breaking 2,289 performances over seven years, more than any other performer.
Suzanne Joy Lynch is a New Zealand singer who has worked professionally under the names Suzanne Donaldson, Suzanne Lynch and Suzanne.
David Harold Ward Hartnell is a New Zealand journalist and media personality best known for his Hollywood gossip column and best-dressed lists. He was the first full-time celebrity gossip columnist in New Zealand and his work appeared in print, radio and television. His syndicated columns have run in magazines and newspapers around the world. Hartnell is the author of ten books, the Patron of the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc and the Ambassador of St James Saviours. In April 2014 he was named Ambassador of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand and in September 2016 the Patron of the Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians Inc.
Oswald Astley Cheesman was a New Zealand musician, music teacher, conductor and composer. He was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 13 September 1913. After World War II, he was involved in forming first New Zealand Broadcasting Service's Auckland Radio Orchestra and then in 1946 and 1947 the National Orchestra, now the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Edgar Wilson Benyon was a New Zealand magician, juggler and entertainer. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand on 29 March 1901.
Gary Michiel Daverne is a New Zealand musical arranger, composer, conductor, director and producer.
The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc (VAC) is a non-for-profit organisation and show business club. It was founded in 1966 and became an incorporated society in 1972. The VAC was formed to promote goodwill within the New Zealand entertainment industry and foster a spirit of loyalty, friendship and cooperation between members. Each year the VAC presents a number of New Zealand entertainment awards including the prestigious Benny Award.
The Grand Master of Magic Award is a lifetime achievement award presented by the Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians Incorporated on behalf of the magicians of New Zealand. It was first awarded in 1969 and to date it has been awarded on nineteen occasions.
Graham Neil Bartlett, generally known as Gray Bartlett, is a New Zealand born guitarist, country music performer, producer, talent mentor, tour promoter and entrepreneur.
Glyn Tucker Jr. was a leading figure in the New Zealand music industry for more than twenty years. Following an early career as a singer/songwriter in The Gremlins (1965–1968) he founded Mandrill Recording Studios in Auckland in 1975, and produced and engineered hundreds of New Zealand songs in the late seventies, eighties and early nineties.
The Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians Inc (BAM) is a New Zealand-based non-for-profit organisation and magic club. It was founded in 1946.